Swede dreams

A highly collaborative, culture-led approach formed the foundations for a pitch-perfect Bali holiday retreat, designed for a Scandinavian family

- ELLIE STATHAKI

When a Swedish family was looking for a modern, low-maintenance holiday retreat on Bali, they turned to The Lennon Project, headed up by Sam Lennon. The Aucklandbased architecture studio then set out to balance the requirements of its clients with the island's rhythms, traditions and overall culture, bringing everything together effortlessly in Tegel House, which feels like a natural addition to its neighbourhood, Canggu, a buzzy resort on the island's south coast.

Following extensive research, the family had landed on their dream plot, which sat next to a house also designed by the studio. 'They liked the aesthetic of this house and asked the owners for my details,' recalls Lennon of the first conversations back in 2020.

The site, even though located in a high-density area, overlooks a green belt of protected land, which consists of terraced rice paddy fields still in use by farmers. It was these views and the island's slow pace, green nature and pleasant climate that the owners wanted to make the most of, asking the architects to create a retreat that embraces local styles and materials, while avoiding pastiche interpretations of the island vernacular.